Forearm Blood Flow after Isometric Contraction at Different Loads in Relation to Potentially Vasodilating Substances

Abstract

Forearm blood flow and some constituents of effluent venous blood were studied after a sustained handgrip at 1/3, 1/4, and 1/8 of maximal voluntary contraction. The peak flow increased with contraction force and the increase was to a certain extent proportional to the increase in venous osmolality and lactate concentration but not to K⁺ or Po₂, and consequently these factors might play a significant role in the regulation of exercise hyperemia although, in agreement with the often proposed contention, other factors seem to contribute.

Key Words:

• Exercise hyperemia
• forearm blood flow
• isometric contraction
• osmolality